The MTN Developer Portal gives you API access to SMS on MTN's networks in countries across Africa. Connect a number or short code you have with MTN to send and receive SMS with your contacts.

Before you start

You'll need an account on the MTN Developer Portal, and an app there with SMS added to it. MTN's guide to getting started explains how to register, create an app and add products to it. Once MTN approves your app, its consumer key and consumer secret are on your profile page.

Some of MTN's APIs need a formal agreement with MTN, so check with MTN what you need for your number or short code.

Adding the channel

Go to Settings > Channels and click New Channel. MTN is under SMS & Voice, or you can type its name in the search box. If your workspace's timezone isn't Africa/Brazzaville, check Show other regions to find it.

Then fill in the form:

Click Add Channel.

When you add the channel, it subscribes to your number's messages with MTN, so there's nothing more to set up on MTN's side. If MTN doesn't accept your consumer key and secret, you'll see an error and the channel isn't added.

Considerations

Messages are sent as plain text, and any attachments are sent as links.

To learn more about channels in general, see Introduction to Channels.